A  Place fell circuit from Patterdale

10.5 miles 2650ft

Setting off from Patterdale with the Harvest Moon still in the sky

Looking back across the Patterdale valley....

....and south to Kirkstone pass

Arriving at Boredale Hause the crossing point of many paths to the Eastern fells

A panorama of the Fairfield & Helvellyn fells from Boredale Hause.....

 ....and just as I left to continue my climb the sun appeared

Looking back to Boredale Hause....

....and back down to Patterdale

The summit trig point of Place fell appears on the horizon....

....and here it is again at 2156ft The summit affords some great views including....

Glenridding valley....

....and Glenridding village.....

....The Helvellyn ridge....

.....a view to the Northern Pennines....

....and zooming in on Helvellyn itself

Ullswater from on the descent to Sandwick Bay.... 

....and again....

....and again

Cottages in Sandwick Bay....

....now sat watching the activity in the bay

....and again

Stopping for lunch on the 'Ullswater Way' path heading back to.... 

.....Patterdale 

A final look back across the fields to Place fell from where I was parked

Having not had the opportunity last week to get out for a walk this was wonderful day's walking on my return to the fells!

 Bolton Abbey, The Valley of Desolation

& Simon's Seat 

12miles 1900ft

Setting off along the river Wharfe towards Bolton Abbey....

....and again

Crossing the river to the large cafe and visitor centre in the abbey grounds, but too early to be open.

A heron was looking for its breakfast below

I continued down the river....

....until the ruins of Bolton Abbey appeared through the mist...

.....and again

I wandered through the ruins before entering....

....the priory church which has seen continuous Christian worship for 850 years

The priory church is dedicated to Saints Cuthbert & Mary and had just opened

This model shows what the original buildings would have been

Leaving the priory I crossed the river to start the climb to Simon's Seat....

....which took me up the Valley of Desolation, so named after a violent storm of 1826 stripped the valley of trees and vegetation, it has now completely recovered....

.....and hides this lovely waterfall

The path climbs out of the valley onto the open moorland

Looking back to where valley emerges to the moors...

.....before completing the climb to Simon's Seat 

Looking back from the summit (1591ft)

....and down to the Skyreholme villages....

....and again

Now on the descent and looking into Upper Wharfedale.....

Now finally back in Wharfedale at the aqueduct which has a that path crosses the river near where my car was parked.

This had been a lovely day's walking with lots of variety and interest. I highly recommend a visit to the area!

A walk along the South Tyne Trail, Lambley Viaduct to Alston

  11miles 500ft 

Leaving my car in Alston I caught the bus to Lambley and walked along the path to the viaduct.

The viaduct is 850ft (260m) long.... 

....108ft (33m) high with a modern footbridge over the river South Tyne below

Looking north, down stream

I crossed back over the footbridge for views from below....

....the viaduct opened in 1852 for trains to carry coal and lead from the  Alston mines to the main railway line at Haltwistle 

Sadly it closed in 1976 but the track from Alston to Slaggyford is now used by the Alston heritage railway

Walking the trail had the feel of looking out of the window of a slow train....!

The railway line takes a route which is quite high up on the west side of  South Tyne Dale, affording views across the dale

As soon as they heard the farmer's vehicle they came running from all directions!

The trail crosses the A680 main road to Brampton....

.....and then on to Slaggyford which is the last stop on Heritage line from Alston

Leaving Slaggyford behind the trail continues alongside the current railway track....

....to the next stop Lintley Halt...

....followed soon after by Kirkhaugh Halt....

....where a diesel maintenance engine came past

Now approaching the caravan site near Alston....

....followed by a final look back down the river and rail line...

before arriving at Alston station....

.....with a view to the spire on top of the church of St Augustine of Canterbury

A final look round the Market Cross.... 

....in the centre of Alston...

....and then back to my car

I'd been looking for a walk today that would stay low level given the poor forecast. The Pennine way also follows a similar route up the South Tyne dale and I remembered that being a pleasant day's walk, However  it didn't pass the Lambley viaduct which was certainly the highlight of the day.